Ohio State will win the Big Ten. Braxton Miller is the league's best offensive player. Ryan Shazier is the league's best defensive player.

And, yes, Urban Meyer is the league's best coach.

My ballot:

Legends
Nebraska
Michigan
Northwestern
Michigan State
Minnesota
Iowa

Leaders
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Penn State
Indiana
Purdue
Illinois

Title game: Ohio State over NebraskaOffensive player of the year: Ohio State QB Braxton MillerDefensive player of the year: Ohio State LB Ryan ShazierThe Big Ten team that will be the biggest surprise? IndianaThe Big Team team that will be the biggest disappointment? Michigan StateWho is the best coach in the Big Ten, however you want to define that? Urban Meyer, Brady Hoke, Pat Fitzgerald

That's sure to sit well with Michigan fans. Shall I accept my applause now, or wait until the end?

Urban Meyer was voted by MLive.com, and by the media at large, as the Big Ten's best coach. Ohio State also is expected to win the Big Ten title.Associated Press

The only discrepancy came in the Legends Division, where the media picked Michigan to eke out Nebraska as the favorite.

Legends Division
Oh, I didn't forget Michigan, placing it second. The Wolverines have a terrific new quarterback in Devin Gardner who as a true dual-threat is in for a big season.

They have a new toy in the backfield in Derrick Green, and he probably will be the starter sooner or later. Tight end Devin Funchess should be a star, and defensive end Frank Clark too.

For these reasons, I think Michigan does very well in the Legends.

But doesn't win it.

Nebraska does.

Much has been made of the Wolverines' schedule this season, which is more manageable with home dates against Ohio State and, yes, Nebraska.

But the Cornhuskers' slate might be even easier, opening with a stretch that includes Illinois, (at) Purdue, (at) Minnesota and Northwestern before their anticipated trip to Ann Arbor. That should be a 4-0 start, much like the one that catapulted them to the division title last year.

After facing Michigan, Nebraska hosts Michigan State before traveling to Penn State, then finishing at home against Iowa. Two losses seem like a good bet, or even one, which surely would be enough to win the highly competitive Legends.

The Wolverines will be right there. But they're thin up front offensively and at quarterback. An injury at either position, and fortunes could quickly swing.

Ditto at receiver, if Jeremy Gallon goes down.

They return the fewest starters in the league overall.

Devin Gardner is the new face of Michigan football. Can he carry the Wolverines to a title?Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Michigan should have a good year, but that trip to Michigan State will be a toughie, as well as home games against Nebraska and Ohio State. A road trip to Northwestern will be tricky too, as Pat Fitzgerald has that team on the rise.

The Wildcats also return mobile quarterback Kain Colter, and mobile quarterbacks continue to be the Achilles' heel of Greg Mattison's defense. Stud tailback Venric Mark is back as well, after slicing up the Wolverines a year ago -- a game they nearly won, at the Big House.

That's a better team than the one that nearly beat Michigan in Evanston two seasons ago, and ranked third on my ballot.

Michigan State is fourth. It has the makings of the Big Ten's best defense, but where will the points come from? There were only 14 offenses -- in the entire country -- that scored less than the Spartans, and now workhorse Le'Veon Bell is gone.

Will Andrew Maxwell get the start at quarterback for Michigan State, after struggling last season and in the spring game?Associated Press

What does return is a major void at tailback, doubts at quarterback and, if the spring game is any indication, more drops from the receivers (nine in 54 attempts).

Michigan State has climbed as high as the top 10 in some preseason polls. It was mentioned by ESPN's Football Outsiders blog as one of six non-SEC teams who could vie for a national title.

For that reason, the Spartans were my pick for this year's most disappointing team. They'll finish fourth in the Legends.

Minnesota and Iowa are ... well ... still Minnesota and Iowa. And Kirk Ferentz will be paid handsomely for it.

Leaders Division
Which brings us to the Leaders Division, where Ohio State is the overwhelming favorite. And it's easy to see why.

Miller is entering his third season as a starting quarterback and should make a leap forward, particularly now that he's in the second year of Meyer's system. He is the Big Ten's leading returning rusher, actually, and has shown major growths through the air as well.

He's going to be the league's top player on offense.

Ohio State QB Braxton Miller was the media's choice as Big Ten preseason player of the year.Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

And, hey, the Buckeyes have the top defensive player as well in Shazier. He led the Big Ten in tackles for loss (17) last season, finished second in tackles (115), fourth in forced fumbles (three), seventh in sacks (5.0) and eighth in passes defended (12).

Star tailback Carlos Hyde is suspended indefinitely, and star cornerback Bradley Roby won't attend media days this week and could face further action, according to reports.

But Ohio State has a stable of talented backs, and doesn't need any of them to be the focus anyway considering Miller's growing star. Roby is the one that really hurts, but he should be back by the time the Buckeyes' schedule toughens.

That's because the schedule won't really toughen until the season finale against Michigan. Seriously. Ohio State misses Michigan State and Nebraska and gets Wisconsin and Penn State at home.

Its toughest pre-Michigan game might be at Northwestern. Which is tough, but should be managed.

Best coach
Meyer has that thing humming, which is why he's my No. 1 coach at this time. He hasn't lost a game yet, which is hard to argue with, and is drawing the types of recruits who can sustain that kind of success.

Hoke is No. 2 based not only on his 19-7 start, including a remarkable 11-2 job in 2011, but where Michigan is headed. The program is staring down its third consecutive top-10 recruiting class next season, which should solidify the Wolverines' place among the Big Ten's elite and prepare them to duke it out with Ohio State for East Division titles starting in 2014.

But in 2013, Ohio State is deeper and more experienced. Its schedule is easier.